Tomb Figures: Bactrian Camel and
Central Asian Groom

These ceramic figures of a Bactrian camel and groom (see images below) were made
over one thousand years ago in China for the tombs of wealthy
aristocrats or merchants. Objects such as these, along with figures
of guardians, soldiers, and entertainers, were placed in tombs so
that the spirit of the deceased person might have a rich and full
afterlife similar to the life he or she had lived on earth.

China was the eastern end of the Silk Route (also called the Silk
Road), some five thousand miles of roads linking Asia, the Middle
East, and Europe, along which traders exchanged not only goods
and services but also customs and languages. Two-humped Bactrian
camels were ideal for carrying the trade goods. Standing seven feet
tall at the hump, they can carry great weight, walk on varied terrain
with their large feet, and store fat in their humps, converting it to
energy or water on long journeys.

The unknown artists who made these sculptures filled them with a
lively spirit. The camel twists its neck and opens its mouth to bray
loudly. The groom raises his arm as if to control a stubborn camel
with invisible reins. Attached to the camel’s saddle you can see a
water flask, a slab of smoked meat, and a saddlebag with a fanged
guardian face.

The figures were coated with cream, amber, and green glazes,
which still shine brightly after a thousand years. The groom’s face
and legs were not glazed, but instead were originally painted with
watercolors, which have faded away over time.